Wingloading: We recommend loading the IBEX UL at between .60, and .68. This recommendation has evolved to be lighter over the years as we have seen pilots use this canopy in a wider range of situations than it was originally intended. The .60 to .68 range provides what we think is a good balance between handling, forward speed, and sink rate.  NOTE: If you are on the very light or very heavy end of the spectrum, it is critical to understand that WL advice is not perfectly linear from one end to the other. 

Lightweight jumpers: While we do offer a 190 & 200, we no longer recommend canopies this small for “normal” BASE applications. If you are 120lbs bodyweight or less, the 220 size should be your first consideration and although you may also opt for the 210, we strongly recommend the 220. This is because regardless of wingloading, “small canopies always act like small canopies”. A smaller canopy opens harder and faster, has a more dynamic character, and is generally less forgiving. Very light jumpers must accept that the laws of physics are non-negotiable, and there will be a narrower range of acceptable wind conditions due to the reduced forward speed inherent in lightly loaded canopies. BASE is not a high-wind sport, so we view this as a low-cost compromise. If you want to jump in high wind, go skydiving. If you want to BASE jump in high wind, we recommend that you purchase gear from a different manufacturer. 

Heavier jumpers: Heavier jumpers (>200lbs / 100kg) may consider loading their parachute at over .68, and even as high as .75. Like lightweight jumpers, heavier jumpers must accept that the laws of physics are non-negotiable. Heavier bodies accelerate faster and commonly reach higher deployment airspeeds, which increases the force on equipment. A larger parachute does not have more lines, which means that each line and line attachment point and loaded rib are all subject to higher force during opening, which increases the strain on the equipment and therefore the risk. In terms of handling, like small parachutes, “big parachutes always act like big parachutes, regardless of wingloading”. This means that a 320 loaded at .75 will still have softer openings and less dynamic behavior than a 190 loaded at .69. This is good news for heavier jumpers in that handling characteristics do not degrade as quickly as WL increases. The main concern is the overall force that can be applied to the parachute and the rest of your load-bearing equipment. Heavier jumpers MUST carefully manage their deployment airspeed and gear configuration. A 220lb (100kg) jumper doing a terminal slick jump or tracking jump on a 290 can result in disaster (equipment failure or bodily injury, or death) if the airspeed at deployment, slider, PC, and body position are all wrong. Or, it can be a non-event if the jumper manages airspeed, chooses the correct PC, and configures their slider and packjob properly. It is your responsibility to understand the proper packing, configuration, airspeed, and body position needed for a reduced-risk parachute opening.